KLM’s websites use cookies and similar technologies. KLM uses functional cookies to ensure that the websites operate properly and analytic cookies to make your user experience optimal. Third parties place marketing and other cookies on the websites to display personalised advertisements for you. These third parties may monitor your internet behaviour through these cookies. By clicking ‘agree’ next to this or by continuing to use this website, you thereby give consent for the placement of these cookies. If you would like to know more about cookies or adjusting your cookie settings, please read KLM’s cookie policy .

It looks like your browser is out of date.
To use all features of KLM.com safely, we recommend that you update your browser, or that you choose a different one. Continuing with this version may result in parts of the website not being displayed properly, if at all. Also, the security of your personal information is better safeguarded with an updated browser.

Architectural feat

The Hagia Sophia, which means ‘Church of Holy Wisdom’, proudly stands on a hill in Istanbul’s old city centre. Originally, the impressive building served as a church, later it became a mosque and since 1935 it has been a museum. But the Hagia Sophia is best known as a spectacular architectural landmark. In 532, a group of architects were commissioned to build a church that would be unlike any other church - and they certainly succeeded.

At the time, the Hagia Sophia was quite a revolutionary building. It marked the beginning of a new period in early Christian architecture. At the time most cathedrals had a rectangular shape – a round dome with a diameter of more than 30 metres was unheard of in the Byzantine world. Even the architects, who boasted a great understanding of civil engineering, were unsure if the construction would hold. Twenty years later an earthquake caused the dome to collapse, but it was immediately restored.

 The beautifully illuminated Hagia Sophia

Istanbul

From church to secular museum

When you enter the Hagia Sophia it takes a moment to adjust to the dim light. During the restoration, the windows that once let in natural light were bricked up. The church is illuminated by a large number of lamps. The glass and gold of the famous mosaics are beautifully lit in the glow of the flickering lights. These mosaics are spread over various corners of the building. In the sparkling light the tiles almost seem to be moving.

Although the gold-coloured mosaics are one of the artistic highlights of the Hagia Sophia, they were not always visible. Until 1453, the church with its Byzantine wall paintings and mosaics was a Christian house of prayer, but when Mehmet II conquered Constantinople, the building was immediately transformed into a mosque. He removed all of the relics, added minarets to the building and replaced the cross on top of the dome with a crescent moon. The new leader ordered the wall paintings and mosaics to be covered with white plaster. It was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, who brought back these beautiful works of art. In 1934 he transformed the mosque into a secular museum and had the plaster removed, revealing the hidden artwork once again.

Visitors can still clearly see the remnants of the former mosque. The dome contains scriptures from the Koran and in the rear of the museum stands a ‘minbar’ or pulpit. There are numerous large green wooden shields that display the holy Islamic names of God, the prophet Mohammed and the first 4 representatives of God on earth, written in gold letters. Combined with the early Christian art, it makes for a unique entity.

View on the map

Ayasofya Meydanı


The mosaics sparkle in the lights of the Hagia Sophia

A healing pillar

Large crowds often gather at the entrance to the museum. They are queuing for the ‘wishing column’, a pillar that looks to be perspiring. A legend that dates back to before 1200 says that ever since Gregorius the Healer appeared here, the moisture from this pillar has healing powers. Many visitors still place their thumb over the worn area on the pillar; the daily rubbing by so many visitors has left the copper shining like gold.